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Cornucopia Institute need to make before EWG comprehends that certifica- after all, requires complicated spicings and other
tion can be—and has been—co-opted and corrupted? As Salatin explains gourmet tricks. This drives people to eat out often
so well, “transparency” between consumers and farmers is the answer. or to dine at home on lowfat packaged foods.
That means thinking globally and acting locally by getting up front and Out or in, the manufacturers have ramped up the
personal with your food and its source. flavors with MSG and other health-destroying
additives.
HEALTH PROBLEMS
EWG blames animal foods for the diseases of modern civilization, RIGHT-SIZED PORTIONS
including cancer and heart disease. But the twentieth century saw a decline EWG’s tips for eco-conscious consumers
in the consumption of meat, dairy and butter consumption, and a sharp include reducing food waste by buying “right
increase in the consumption of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, white size portions.” What’s wrong with that? It buys
flour, liquid and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, artificial flavorings, into the idea that meat comes in little packages.
preservatives and other known health hazards of processed, packaged and Boneless, skinless chicken breast, for example,
fast foods. Contrary to popular belief, science does not support the idea instead of eating every part of the animal—white
that saturated fat and cholesterol found in animal products contribute to meat and dark, tough cuts and tender, organ
obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. All health problems associated meats like liver, and skins, bones, tendons and
with animal products lie with factory farming and other commercial and cartilage in old-fashioned broth. EWG is right
non-sustainable farming and food processing practices. to point out the cost to the environment of food
that goes bad and ends up in landfills, but recom-
CANCER-CAUSING TOXINS mends a solution that means more packaging, not
EWG recommends lowfat dairy because “less fat will mean fewer less. How about some emphasis on old-fashioned
cancer-causing toxins in the body.” That’s nonsense, of course, when we thrift? Consuming leftovers, freezing and, most
are talking about the health-giving fat found in the milk of cows, sheep and important of all, valuing and using the entire
goats who spend their lives out in the sun on pasture. This recommenda- animal.
tion further fails to recognize the fact that not all toxins are fat-soluble,
many are water-soluble, and commercially grown fruits, vegetables, grains, BUYING LOCAL
beans and seeds are often loaded with toxins, including the dioxins that EWG reports that buying vegetables locally
EWG erroneously states are found “entirely” in animal products. helps the environment, but buying eggs, milk,
fish, poultry and meat locally has a minimal ef-
LOWFAT NONSENSE fect. It’s one of the primary reasons EWG recom-
The idea that eating lowfat could be eco-conscious defies common mends we cut back on all meat and adopt a more
sense. The lowfat gospel is a key reason why factory farms—including “veg centric” diet. Such a bizarre finding could
so-called organic factory farms—grow freakish hens with size DD breasts. only be the case if researchers evaluated the en-
Big Agra’s goal with such chickens is to minimize the less-profitable dark vironmental impact of buying animal products
meat and maximize the white meat preferred by “health conscious” con- from factory farms—including “Big Organic”
sumers. The lowfat message also pleases Big Pfood, which profits mightily operations—located close to home. Furthermore,
whenever whole foods are divided into several different products, all of it fails to take into account the role animals play
which will require manufacturing, packaging and long distance hauling. in restoring our soil and growing nutrient-dense
As for the skim milk recommended by EWG, Mother Nature put fat in vegetables and fruits. Without animals nearby,
milk for a reason, and that reason was not to kill us. When people drink farmers must use fossil fuel fertilizers and/or
skim milk, their bodies need and crave that missing cream, leading to compost and manure transported from far away.
compensatory bingeing on ice cream and other unhealthy treats high in Not good for the environment!
both fat and sugar. Lowfat thus leads to increased consumption, more
packages, more products, higher profits, ill health and environmental GRAINS, BEANS AND TOFU
destruction. Finally, if people give up or minimize eggs,
meat and dairy products, what will they eat
Yet another problem with EWG’s lowfat recommendation is it encour- instead? EWG suggests grains, beans and tofu.
ages people not to cook. How so? Because fat is what gives food flavor. In other words, vegetarian foods that are most
Cooks who choose lean cuts and prepare vegetables without butter or other likely grown and transported from a distance.
tasty fats, often think they are lousy cooks. Making lowfat foods tasty, And the mistaken goal of eating less meat will
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